Fad Diets Are Out, Low-Fat Diets and Exercise Are In

The fad diets of the 2000's — the baby food diet, the Master cleanse, the Paleo diet ring a bell? — are out, say researchers from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. What do they say works best for a successful weight loss plan? Eating less fat and exercising more.

After looking at dietary patterns of nearly 2,600 subjects, the study authors found that the tried-and-true weight loss tips are what worked the most for people trying to lose weight. Said lead study author Christina Wee, it's good news that fad diets are on their way out.

"It's very encouraging to find that the most of the weight loss methods associated with success are accessible and inexpensive," Wee said in a press release. "There are lots of fad diets out there as well as expensive over-the-counter medications that have not necessarily been proven to be effective." Plus, diet foods like fat-free and sugar-free items weren't proven to be successful; researchers say it could be because dieters think they can eat more of diet foods because they're "healthier."

And the structure of a weight loss program may help those looking to lose weight. Those who participated in a weight loss program lost more weight than those who didn't; those who lost 10 percent or more of their body weight were most likely enrolled in a program. Additionally, very few study participants who used diet pills successfully lost weight. It's a clear correlation between weight loss and exercise and diet.

The newest research is a sign of hope for those looking to lose weight to improve their health; Wee says that it's best to lose 10 percent of body weight to see significant health improvements in the obese, but losing as little as 5 percent can still make a big difference.